--- title: Encoders and Tachometers | Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs (2) description: Brian Winter is the Encoder Product Manager for Nidec Avtron Automation Corporation. (2) --- [![Nidec-Avtron-Encoders-Logo](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Nidec-Avtron-Encoders-Logo.png?width=581&height=100&name=Nidec-Avtron-Encoders-Logo.png "Nidec-Avtron-Encoders-Logo")](https://www.nidec-avtronencoders.com/) - [Find An Encoder](https://www.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders) - [Cross Reference Engine](https://www.nidec-avtronencoders.com/cross-reference) - [Get a Quote](https://www.nidec-avtronencoders.com/configurator) - [Accessories](https://www.nidec-avtronencoders.com/accessories) - [Industries](https://www.nidec-avtronencoders.com/industry) - [Videos](https://www.nidec-avtronencoders.com/videos/) - [Contact Us](https://www.nidec-avtronencoders.com/contact) ## Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs Brian Winter is the Encoder Product Manager for Nidec Avtron Automation Corporation. Find me on: ### Recent Posts ## [Get Rid of the Claptrap!](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/get-rid-of-the-claptrap) Posted by [Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs) on May 28, 2014, 9:00:00 AM [![](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/hs-fs/file-528676869-jpg/Images/Encoder_Blog_Images/Fig_9.jpg)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/get-rid-of-the-claptrap) Rotary encoders can have their own reliability problems.  So how can you eliminate items around the encoder that decrease reliability on your drilling equipment? [Read More](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/get-rid-of-the-claptrap) Topics: [Top Drive Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/top-drive-encoders), [Oil and Gas Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/oil-and-gas-encoders) - [mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/get-rid-of-the-claptrap](mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/get-rid-of-the-claptrap) - ## [Understanding New Safety Certifications for Encoders: IECEx, ATEX, UL, CSA, CE](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/understanding-new-safety-certifications-for-encoders-iecex-atex-ul-ce) Posted by [Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs) on May 21, 2014, 9:57:00 AM [![](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/hs-fs/file-534561406-png/Images/Encoder_Blog_Images/Encoders/Hazardous_Duty_Encoders_(ATEX_RATED)/XR115.png)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/understanding-new-safety-certifications-for-encoders-iecex-atex-ul-ce) So you are wondering about safety certifications for rotary incremental encoders?  This is a complex issue, and in this post, we'll do our best to explain the certifications, and how they apply to encoders. [Read More](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/understanding-new-safety-certifications-for-encoders-iecex-atex-ul-ce) Topics: [Top Drive Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/top-drive-encoders), [Oil and Gas Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/oil-and-gas-encoders) - [mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/understanding-new-safety-certifications-for-encoders-iecex-atex-ul-ce](mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/understanding-new-safety-certifications-for-encoders-iecex-atex-ul-ce) - ## [4 Steps to End Encoder Failures](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/4-steps-to-end-encoder-failures) Posted by [Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs) on May 7, 2014, 1:58:00 PM Recently, I was invited by Design World to provide some insight into encoder failures. [Read More](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/4-steps-to-end-encoder-failures) Topics: [Top Drive Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/top-drive-encoders), [Oil and Gas Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/oil-and-gas-encoders) - [mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/4-steps-to-end-encoder-failures](mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/4-steps-to-end-encoder-failures) - ## [Real-World Troubleshooting--Are These Rotary Encoder Signals Good?](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/real-world-troubleshooting-are-these-rotary-encoder-signals-good) Posted by [Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs) on Apr 9, 2014, 8:48:00 AM [![](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/hs-fs/file-632001131-jpg/Images/Encoder_Blog_Images/Waveform_of_optical_M737A_on_DC300.jpg)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/real-world-troubleshooting-are-these-rotary-encoder-signals-good) This blog will help you understand rotary encoder signals on your drilling equipment and compare what is acceptable in the real world to the textbook pictures published by vendors.  Unfortunately, what you see in the real world doesn't look much like the textbooks.  This blog will help you determine if your encoder signal is good or bad. [Read More](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/real-world-troubleshooting-are-these-rotary-encoder-signals-good) Topics: [Top Drive Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/top-drive-encoders), [Oil and Gas Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/oil-and-gas-encoders) - [mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/real-world-troubleshooting-are-these-rotary-encoder-signals-good](mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/real-world-troubleshooting-are-these-rotary-encoder-signals-good) - ## [How Optical Encoders Work...](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/how-optical-encoders-work) Posted by [Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs) on Apr 2, 2014, 8:42:00 AM [![](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/hs-fs/file-631931771-jpg/Images/Encoder_Blog_Images/damaged_photo_sensor.jpg)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/how-optical-encoders-work) Understanding how optical encoders work, especially [rotary encoders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_encoder), can help you eliminate (and understand) encoder problems on your drilling rigs. [Read More](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/how-optical-encoders-work) Topics: [Top Drive Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/top-drive-encoders), [Oil and Gas Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/oil-and-gas-encoders) - [mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/how-optical-encoders-work](mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/how-optical-encoders-work) - ## [5 Ways You Can Prevent Top Drive Encoder Failure](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/5-ways-you-can-prevent-top-drive-encoder-failure) Posted by [Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs) on Mar 12, 2014, 9:58:00 AM [![](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/hs-fs/file-562317564-bmp/Images/Encoder_Blog_Images/label_samples.bmp)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/5-ways-you-can-prevent-top-drive-encoder-failure) So you are staring at the inert chunk of metal you just pulled off your top drive, wondering why it isn't a working encoder any more, and what you can do to keep the spare running longer.  Is there a wiring error?  Did someone change the encoder wiring? [Read More](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/5-ways-you-can-prevent-top-drive-encoder-failure) Topics: [Top Drive Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/top-drive-encoders), [Oil and Gas Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/oil-and-gas-encoders) - [mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/5-ways-you-can-prevent-top-drive-encoder-failure](mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/5-ways-you-can-prevent-top-drive-encoder-failure) - ## [Encoder Failure Modes on Top Drives](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives-0) Posted by [Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs) on Mar 5, 2014, 3:02:00 PM [![](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/hs-fs/file-532299388-jpg/Images/Encoder_Blog_Images/Damaged_Optical_Glass_Disk.jpg)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives-0) To understand how to stop encoder failures on your top drives, you have to understand the failures themselves. In my previous blog, we discussed some of the causes of rotary encoder failures on top drives. In this blog, we'll dive a bit deeper and look at the failure modes themselves. [Read More](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives-0) Topics: [Top Drive Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/top-drive-encoders), [Oil and Gas Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/oil-and-gas-encoders) - [mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives-0](mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives-0) - ## [The Causes of Encoder Failure on Top Drives](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives) Posted by [Brian Winter | View all of Brian's blogs](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs) on Mar 3, 2014, 3:00:00 PM [![](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/hs-fs/file-555900108-jpg/Images/Encoder_Blog_Images/Yellow_Top_Drive.jpg)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives) Top drive encoders are mission critical. If you don’t want idle rigs sapping your profits, you need a clear understanding of the challenges and potential problems that can come to your operation. Although top drive encoders are becoming more durable and reliable, there are still many problems that can arise. After all, a huge locomotive-grade electric motor meshed with a 750 ton capable gearbox is often left to depend on a rotary encoder’s glass disk, fragile electronics, and one tiny 40lb single-row bearing! [Read More](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives) Topics: [Top Drive Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/top-drive-encoders), [Oil and Gas Encoders](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/oil-and-gas-encoders) - [mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives](mailto:?body=https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/the-causes-of-encoder-failure-on-top-drives) - [❮](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs/page/1) [1](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs/page/1) [2](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/author/brian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs/page/2) ### Reduce Encoder Failures This blog is dedicated to finding and eliminating encoder failures on heavy duty industrial equipment. ###### **Industries**    - Oil & Gas    - Wind Power    - Cranes    - Mining    - Metals    - Marine    - Pulp & Paper ###### **Topics**    - Root Causes    - Design Selection    - Troubleshooting    - Cabling & Associated Equipment ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Post by Topics - [Oil and Gas Encoders (9)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/oil-and-gas-encoders) - [Top Drive Encoders (9)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/top-drive-encoders) - [Absolute Encoders (6)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/absolute-encoders) - [Metals (6)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/metals) - [Encoders (2)](https://blog.nidec-avtronencoders.com/encoders/topic/encoders) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.nidec-avtronencoders.com%2Fencoders%2Fauthor%2Fbrian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.nidec-avtronencoders.com%2Fencoders%2Fauthor%2Fbrian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://7528304.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/twitter-color.png?width=24&name=twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.nidec-avtronencoders.com%2Fencoders%2Fauthor%2Fbrian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.nidec-avtronencoders.com%2Fencoders%2Fauthor%2Fbrian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on email](https://7528311.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528311/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/email-color.png?width=24&name=email-color.png)](mailto:?subject=Check+out+https%3A%2F%2Fblog.nidec-avtronencoders.com%2Fencoders%2Fauthor%2Fbrian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail&body=Check+out+https%3A%2F%2Fblog.nidec-avtronencoders.com%2Fencoders%2Fauthor%2Fbrian-winter-view-all-of-brians-blogs%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ### Recent Posts